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About the course

This School Direct PGCE course operates over one school academic year and is a full time programme. All PGCE tuition fee trainees will be in school for the equivalent of four days per week increasing to five days per week in the final term. This course is offered through the Lead School of Robert Bloomfield Academy in Shefford in conjunction with our Partnership schools throughout Bedfordshire.

The main strength of our training provision, is that we are small enough to treat every trainee as an individual and as such, we are able to tailor the training experience to meet individual requirements.

It is our belief that teachers are best trained when there is a high level of involvement in the training by qualified teachers - and an extensive immersion in school life. Consequently, all of our trainees are allocated subject specific mentors who will oversee and monitor trainee progress and development.

Underpinning the practical aspect of the training, are the academic taught courses which operate at the end of the school day on a twice weekly basis. The Professional Studies course aims to connect theory and practice and addresses the Standards for QTS and will involve assessment via three assignments (one each term). Additionally, all trainees will attend the Subject Application course which is delivered by the Subject Leaders as a small group subject based tutorial programme - addressing the required subject knowledge for teaching.

By the end of the course, all trainees will be able to achieve the prescribed Standards for newly qualified teachers in secondary education and additionally all of our Tuition Fee courses offer the award of a university validated PGCE with the option of gaining credits towards a Masters qualification.

Interview process

Applications received by The Bedfordshire Schools' Training Partnership are subject to initial shortlisting by the relevant Subject Leader. Shortlisted candidates are then invited to attend an interview which consists of two subject knowledge based tasks (one written), a practical classroom based exercise as well as basic literacy & numeracy testing. Successful candidates are then informed of the outcome within two working days of the interview date.

How school placements work

As a Secondary School training provider, trainees will be allocated a base school placement within a Secondary School as well as a shorter complementary placement during which time they will be allocated a subject specific mentor to oversee their training and development.

These placements will be located across Bedfordshire within our Partnership schools. We will endeavour where possible, to place trainees within a reasonable travelling distance of their home (typically half an hour by car)

Fees

The course fees for 2019/2020 are as follows:

Student type

Fees to pay

UK students

£9,000

EU students

£9,000

Financial support

You could be eligible for either:

a scholarship of £22,000

a bursary of £20,000

With a scholarship or bursary, you’ll also get early career payments of £5,000 each in your third and fifth year of teaching (£7,500 in some areas of England).

To qualify for a scholarship you’ll need a degree of 2:1 or above in maths or a related subject. For a bursary you’ll need a 2:2 or above in any subject.

You can’t claim both a bursary and a scholarship - you can only claim one.

Requirements

Qualifications

It is a requirement of the course that you hold GCSE qualifications in English & Maths at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) and a degree (minimum Third Class) ideally in a relevant subject.

Personal qualities

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified applicants. We would encourage applicants to familarise themselves with the Teacher Standards and the relevant Secondary GCSE curriculum - as well as the current issues effecting education and schools. Additionally, you should be able to demonstrate an enthusiasm and genuine interest in and understanding of young people and the teaching profession.

Other requirements

All applicants to ITT courses are now required to pass the Professional Skills Tests in Numeracy & Literacy prior to commencing their training. Please visit the Department of Education website for further details

Additionally, in line with current safeguarding practice, we will carry out a number of pre-employment checks, including taking up references and a DBS Clearance check for all trainees prior to the start of the course.

About the training provider

INSPIRIT, St Thomas More TSA works in collaboration with The Bedfordshire Schools' Training Partnership offering high quality school based training at over 50 partnership schools. All courses operate over one year and are full time resulting in QTS and academic recognition in the form of a PGCE award (worth 60 Masters Credits) validated by The University of Buckingham.

Trainees will work with experienced teachers as their mentor and will meet weekly with their subject leader for Subject Application lectures. Professional Studies lectures will also be weekly. These lectures will address the Standards for QTS and Subject Knowledge for Teaching and will involve assessment through assignments.

What's in it for you? Why choose us??

High quality school based training alongside qualified teachers;

Excellent employment prospects and a rewarding career - we employ the vast majority of our trainees in our Partnership schools across Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire;

A solid framework of support - always someone to talk to;

Placement in a school tailored to meet your needs - your situation will always be taken into account.

Training with disabilities and other needs

We have accommodated many trainees over the years with various disabilities and other needs - Dyslexia is one we often come across. With the help of the various disability assessments provided we always have a clear picture of the needs of every individual at the start of their training and can then tailor our lectures to ensure that we address these needs. Being a relatively small provider this is never a problem and we are always available to discuss any issues moving forward. The Office Manager meets every week with trainees when they attend Professional Studies so there is always an opportunity to check well-being.

Support and advice

Get support and advice about teaching

Register with Get into Teaching, the Department for Education’s free support and advice service, for personalised guidance from teaching experts. They can help you to prepare your application, book school experience, and access exclusive teaching events. You can also call them free on 0800 389 2500, or speak to an adviser using their online chat service, from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.

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